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Recycle Utah

Recycle Utah

Nonprofit Summit County, Utah Recycling Center

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    • Remote Glass Recycling Bins
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    • Composting
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      • Medicine Disposal
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#recycling

You Are What You Eat: The Hidden Threat of Microplastics in Our Food

April 23, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

“You are what you eat.” Most of my generation has heard this phrase at some point, usually as a warning against fast food, added sugars, and preservatives. But this same adage applies to another growing issue: the rise of microplastics in our food and environment.

Microplastics are plastic fragments five millimeters or smaller, broken down from larger plastic waste. Their concentration has increased sixfold since the 1990s due to our growing dependence on plastic and inadequate waste disposal systems. Microplastics contaminate air, water, and soil, harming the organisms that ingest them and increasing in concentrations as they make their way up the food chain through biological magnification.

The pressing concern for humans, however, is that we digest organisms and we drink the water filled with plastic. We are connected to the environment, and that environment is filling with plastic; statistics show that the average person consumes five grams of microplastics per week, and more and more research is proving the harmful effects that this has on our physiology.

Microplastics have direct effects on the human circulatory, respiratory, immune, and endocrine systems. In the short term, they can cause oxidative stress, weakened immunity, organ dysfunction, and respiratory issues. Long-term exposure can disrupt essential bodily functions and even increase cancer risk.

Now you may be thinking, “That’s terrible, but what am I supposed to do about it?” Here are a few actions you can take to prevent microplastic consumption:

  • Reduce the amount of plastic you use and purchase. Instead of using one-time-use
    items, invest in reusable bags, Tupperware, silverware, etc.
  • Reduce your consumption of processed foods.
  • Filter your tap water.
  • Avoid containers that have a plastic lining.

These simple actions reduce your risk of ingesting microplastics while also benefiting the environment by cutting plastic waste. In today’s world, we are constantly reminded of environmental challenges—but small, conscious choices can make a real impact. By choosing less plastic in our daily lives, we take one small but meaningful step toward a cleaner, healthier future.

By Grayson Rae

Filed Under: Sustainable Materials Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

Sustainability on the Slopes: Park City Mountain’s Waste Reduction Efforts

April 16, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

In 2017, Vail Resorts announced “Commitment to Zero”, a goal across resorts to achieve a net-zero operating footprint by 2030. At Park City Mountain (PCM), efforts have been centered on reducing landfill waste, a particularly relevant focus given the community’s ongoing discussions about improving waste diversion. I chatted with Erin Fulmore, PCM’s Sustainability Coordinator, to learn more about what the mountain is doing to meet its sustainability goals.

PCM is taking steps to reduce landfill waste by expanding recycling efforts, cutting down on disposables, and improving waste sorting. Currently, 66% of the resort’s waste is diverted from landfills, thanks to a variety of initiatives aimed at reducing waste. Beyond traditional recycling streams like cardboard, mixed recyclables, and metals, PCM has introduced specialized recycling programs for rubber gloves, soft plastics, ski passes, employee uniforms, and my personal favorite, snack wrappers. Granola bar wrappers and chip bags are recycled into outdoor patio furniture which can be seen at the on-mountain dining facilities Summit House and Sun Lodge.A more recent addition to the resort’s waste diversion efforts is wood and pallet recycling, with scrap wood now being composted locally. PCM is also prioritizing food waste reduction, collecting food scraps from kitchens and lodges to be composted. Inside the lodges, a shift toward reusable cups, plates, and utensils has further minimized waste, while compostable Eco-Products cups are used for hot beverages.

With all these different waste streams, sorting waste can be confusing. That’s why PCM has back-of-house waste management. Employees sort waste into different streams to minimize contamination and ensure materials go into their proper bins. Many of the waste streams aren’t public-facing, because streams like snack wrappers and compost need virtually no contamination to be recycled. If you’re at PCM, the best thing you can do is bring your plates
and trays to the sorting stations to be sorted by trained staff. Make sure all beverage cups make it to a sorting station, because if your cup goes in the trash or recycling bins it can’t be composted. Last May, PCM transitioned to 100% renewable electricity through the Elektron Solar Project.With climate change threatening snowfall and winter sports, PCM is working to cut emissions and waste for the long-term sustainability of skiing. By prioritizing waste reduction, recycling, and renewable energy, the resort is working to minimize its footprint and preserve outdoor recreation for future generations.

By Chelsea Hafer

Filed Under: Sustainable Materials Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

Plastic Recycling: What’s Really Happening?

April 9, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

Recycling plastic is a great way to reduce environmental impact. Plastic is one of the most commonly used materials, yet when it ends up in the landfill, it can take up to 500 years to break down, never truly biodegrading. Some plastics are recyclable in your curbside bin, and the other, harder-to-recycle plastics can be dropped off at Recycle Utah to be recycled.

Recyclable plastics will have a recycling symbol and a number printed on them. In general, plastics #1 and #2 are always recyclable in your curbside bin. If the plastic is firm or hard, such as a plastic water bottle or detergent bottle, it can typically go in your curbside bin. However,soft plastics you can crinkle in your hand need to be taken to Recycle Utah or another certified drop-off center, such as Smith’s or Walmart. Soft plastics include plastic bags, plastic wrap, Ziploc bags, etc. Soft plastics are never allowed in curbside bins because they jam the machine and slow down the recycling process. The best solution for plastic bags is to reduce use or avoid buying them.

Most of the time, if the symbol on your packaging says it is recyclable, it is. The most frequent exception to this rule is non-refrigerated Tetra Paks. Shelf-stable liquids, such as alternative milk and broth, packaged in a Tetra Pak is not recyclable in the state of Utah. These items can cause curbside bins to be contaminated and landfilled, so be very careful not to put them in your recycling bins. Refrigerated milk cartons can be included in your curbside recycling bin in

Summit County, as they are lined with plastic instead of metal. So, what happens to plastics after you recycle them? Plastics in your curbside bin get sent to one of several sorting facilities in Utah. Plastics are then sorted by type, shredded, and melted into pellets to be remade into new plastic materials. The process is far less environmentally harmful than creating virgin plastics. Supporting products with reduced or non-plastic packaging, or being able to reuse products as much as possible before recycling them, is a great way to mitigate the problem of plastic pollution.

By Mia Moore

Filed Under: Sustainable Materials Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

The Plastic Crisis: Unseen Threats and Urgent Solutions

April 2, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

We’ve all heard that plastics are bad for the environment, but do we truly understand why?

Every day, we unknowingly consume microplastics, while animals on land and in water are
ingesting, choking on, and becoming entangled in plastic waste. As a result, habitats are being
destroyed, and species are dying at alarming rates. While these issues are visible, there’s much more beneath the surface.


Virtually all plastic is made from petrochemicals derived from crude oil and natural gas. While
manufacturing plastics, enormous amounts of energy are spent, while unwelcome GHG
(greenhouse gas) is discharged into the air. If our plastic consumption continues unchecked and production expands as planned by the fossil fuel industry, the consequences for our planet and our health will be devastating. By 2030, emissions from plastic production could surpass 40 times the total emissions generated by all fossil fuel vehicles in the U.S. in 2022.

Beyond pollution and emissions, plastics expose us to toxic chemicals throughout their life
cycle—during production, use, and disposal. More than 2,000 chemicals used in plastic
manufacturing are now recognized as hazardous to human health. Even more alarming, nano-
plastics—microscopic particles from plastics—can enter our bodies through food, water, and
even the air we breathe. Researchers are only beginning to understand how much nano-plastics and toxic chemicals accumulate in our organs—and the damage they may cause to our health.

Although it will be hard, if not impossible, for humans to live without plastics, there is a class of plastics that we can absolutely live without. Single use plastics amplify the detriments caused by plastics while encouraging the use-once-then-toss culture.

Our climate is already experiencing the severe consequences of poor environmental
stewardship. The future of our children, and the life of the once plentiful and healthy planetary ecosystem we depend on, is at stake. But there’s good news: by changing our habits and demanding action from corporations, we can shift the trajectory away from environmental disaster and toward a sustainable future.

By Kathryn Kim

Filed Under: Sustainable Materials Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

A Greener Way of Getting Around: The Impact of EVs

March 19, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

Transportation is a critical part of any American’s life, and thanks to the invention of the engine and fossil fuel processing, getting where you want to go has never been easier. Driving a car has become an integral part of American society and culture, as approximately 250 million Americans drive cars. Unfortunately, the climate is in more danger than ever before, and the transportation sector is one of the biggest culprits.

As a reminder, ‘Greenhouse Gases’ such as carbon dioxide, come from the burning of fossil
fuels – a process that occurs in every gas/diesel car. The compounded effect of millions of cars on the road every day adds up to create a layer in the atmosphere that traps heat from escaping and has negative consequences on the earth’s biosphere.


The Energy Information Administration estimates that 31% of all U.S. carbon emissions come
from just gasoline and diesel cars every year. Vehicles with internal combustion engines run on fossil fuels and release tailpipe emissions, which include greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, as well as very harmful and potentially deadly gases like carbon monoxide.

Additionally, gas and diesel cars with internal combustion engines are unsustainable because
they require fossil fuels, like petroleum and natural gases, which are non-renewable, meaning
they cannot be reused and are very hard to acquire.

Luckily, electric vehicle technology is advancing rapidly and production is higher than ever
before. Keep in mind that EVs are still cars, and the vehicle production has its own
environmental impact. But overall, EVs are 10 times more environmentally friendly than gas-
powered cars. There are two main types of EVs: hybrids, which use special technology for
‘regenerative braking’ (recycling the energy from braking back to the car as energy), and fully
electric, battery-powered vehicles. EVs are powered by electricity rather than straight from fossil fuels. While many Americans still use coal-powered electricity, EVs use a fraction of the fossil fuels to charge compared to gas- powered cars, and if you have solar on your house, your personal transportation is carbon-free.

States now offer many benefits to commercially clean vehicles, such as designated parking
spots and driving lanes. EVs also save drivers hundreds of dollars a year on gas. Developments
in EV battery recycling are taking off across the country. If you’re in a place to purchase a new
vehicle, consider buying an EV; the planet, and your wallet, will thank you!

By Grayson Rae

Filed Under: Energy Tagged With: #energy efficiency, #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste

The Environmental Impact of AI

March 12, 2025 by director@recycleutah.org

AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to computer programs that can mimic human intelligence and reasoning, allowing them to “think independently” as a human would. The real-world applications of AI have increased substantially in the last 20 years as technology becomes
progressively more complex. AI excels at detecting patterns and trends in data, which is very
beneficial for analyzing different types of information for varying fields.


Researchers and environmentalists have identified several major environmental concerns with AI. AI server centers use billions of tons of water per day. The computers that run AI servers generate lots of heat, and to cool these servers, fresh water is pumped through tubes running around the service centers. Unsustainable use of this water can lead to large amounts of waste. Globally, AI-related infrastructures are estimated by the UN Environmental Programme to use 6 times the amount of water as the whole country of Denmark.

Secondly, server centers use huge amounts of electricity in the form of running computer
programming units. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2026, nearly 35% of
Ireland’s (a major technology hub) energy could be consumed by data centers. AI has also
prompted major development. AI data centers have more than tripled in the last 20 years,
requiring new space and materials, resulting in deforestation and the loss of wild spaces.
Lastly, these new data centers need new computers, which increases the demand for rare raw
materials (such as mercury and lead) to build motherboards and computers. These can be
costly to mine for and recycle.

AI can certainly be a great tool for scholars and the public alike; however, it must be used
responsibly as we work to solve the current environmental concerns. Keep in mind the
environmental costs of AI as you use it in your daily life, and when it might not be necessary to
use AI, think about switching to a less environmentally costly option, such as a simple internet
search.

By Mia Moore

Filed Under: Energy Tagged With: #greentips, #recycle utah, #recycling, #sustainability, #zero waste, #zerowaste

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  • About
    ▼
    • Our Impact
    • Our Team
    • Job Opportunities
    • Financial Statements
  • Services
    ▼
    • Materials Accepted
    • Remote Glass Recycling Bins
    • Thrift Store
    • Rain Barrels
    • Moving Materials for Sale
    • Self Serve Paper Shredder
    • Recycling Bin Rentals
    • CSA Pick Up
    • Community Trash Cleanups
    • Composting
    • Curbside Recycling
    • Household Hazardous Waste
      ▼
      • Medicine Disposal
  • Education
    ▼
    • Elementary & Adult Education
    • Green Business Program
    • Latinx Outreach
    • Blog
  • Support
    ▼
    • Donate Now
    • Support Recycle Utah’s Plans for the Future
    • Sponsor a Bin
    • Volunteer
    • Shop and Donate
    • Donate Your Car
    • 2024 Supporters
  • Events